The days passed slowly and with the sense of impending battle just days away the castle was tense. The soldiers were always on the look out for anything out of the ordinary. Kagome was constantly training her skills. Sesshomaru was in meetings with Kouga and Kyo all the time. If he wasn't in a meeting then he was training.
Reno kept Kagome busy and was her sparing partner. He was quicker then she would have thought and he was relentless on her. He was always pushing for better. A few times he had wounded her severely when she wasn't concentrating.
A messenger had been sent the day before from the South saying the Southern Army had advanced it's forces to the border and was now encamped there. This little bit of information had not been good. Sesshomaru sent some troops to go and make sure they weren't advancing yet. He didn't want them to swamp his lands.
Sesshomaru was always worried about Kagome but knew he didn't have to be. He had brought her into this but it just doesn't feel like it use to. Before she was a weapon and be damned if he had cared one way or the other what had happened to her. She was immortal and couldn't die, great. That doesn't mean that if wounded she couldn't suffer for an extremely long time.
She was something precious to him now. She was his mate and he was hers. He had missed her as of late. They hadn't spent much time together but he wanted to make sure that she would be able to take care of herself. He also wanted her to control herself. Her temper was a loose cannon and he and his men were not immortal. He didn't need her blowing them all up in a rage.
It was the final night before the battle. The castle was as prepared as they were going to be. They would be leaving at dawn to travel south.
Sesshomaru went to his room knowing Kagome would be inside sleeping. It was late and he didn't expect her to be up. When he opened the door however he was greeted with her smiling face beckoning him to the bed.
"I was hoping you would come to be soon, I didn't want to wait up all night." She looked at him with a slight smirk.
"We will be leaving at dawn you should get some rest."
"I couldn't sleep but I thought maybe you could help me with that." She was being brazen and forward but she didn't care. She may not be able to die but that doesn't mean that he couldn't. She wanted to take some time and be with him because this may be her last chance.
Sesshomaru seemed to understand her need. He could feel it in himself. He wanted to take her. He wanted to touch what was his just incase he loses this battle. He couldn't let that happen. If he lost Kagome could be taken captive and tortured for eternity. The need to be with her suddenly just became all consuming.
He had to have her. He wanted her to know that she meant more to him then anything in this world. He crawled into the bed and had her lying on her back. He looked straight into her soulful blue orbs. The gems that could make his soul melt the battle-hardened ice he always showed others.
"I love you Kagome. I don't admit to anyone that they mean anything to me. I can't have friends or lovers. It's a weakness to my enemies, but you. I can not imagine my life with out you."
She kissed him deeply and pulled him into her tight embrace.
"I love you too Sesshomaru."
There night of passion in each other's arms was met by a sunrise neither wanted to meet. The night of kissing and warm embraces had ended only a few short hours ago.
The couple was ready though. They knew what was to come and were anxious to finish it. Kagome had, had enough of Naraku and was ready to finally end his miserable life. She wanted to end his reign of pain and suffering for herself and for her friends.
As she was getting dressed in her armor she was thinking about how if Sesshomaru didn't survive this she would be completely lost. She was in a world she really didn't know and she had let Inuyasha go so he could live his life. Sango and Miroku were going to start a life together and she didn't want to intrude on that. Especially when Miroku had been waiting for it so long.
Sesshomaru coming into the room and announcing their departure shook her out of her thoughts.
"Reno will be outside the door to take you out to the gate. Don't dally like you normally do. I will meet you down there." He kissed he lips gently and left the room.
She took a deep breath and finished getting ready. Reno and herself went down to the gate to ride with Sesshomaru as the rest of the soldiers walked behind them. The air was tense but everyone was exciting. The adrenaline was pumping and the men were ready to finally put their skills to the test of all their hard work.
Sesshomaru took one look at his men and then at Kagome and Reno.
"Let's move out!" Sesshomaru yelled out.
In the next instant 20,000 men and demons were marching to face the south who had 50,000 strong to their advantage. Kagome only prayed.